The Electroacupuncture Treatment Causes Earlier Recovery of Motor Nerve Dysfunction After Eccentric Exercise

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on muscle and nerve function after eccentric exercise. Methods Fifteen young subjects were included in this study. All participants performed 100 eccentric contractions (ECCs) on the flexor pollicis brevis muscle of both hands and EA or rest intervention was randomly conducted on each hand. Maximal voluntary contraction torque (MVC), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), range of motion (ROM), muscle stiffness, thickness, echo intensity, and motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) were measured before, immediately after ECCs (only for MVC), immediately after intervention, day 1, 2, and 5 after ECCs. Results The results showed that MVC, DOMS, ROM, muscle stiffness, muscle thickness, and echo intensity did not differ between the groups. However, MCV in the control group demonstrated a significant decrease immediately after ECCs and continued until 2 days post-exercise compared to the EA group (immediately after; p = 0.009, day 1; p < 0.001, day 2; p = 0.002). In addition, no significant change in MCV was observed in the EA group (before exercise; 59.8 ± 10.1 m/s, immediately after EA; 63.0 ± 11.2 m/s, day 1; 64.0 ± 7.7 m/s, day 2; 64.1 ± 7.2 m/s, and day 5; 63.4 ± 9.8 m/s). Conclusion EA intervention after strenuous exercise may cause earlier recovery from nerve dysfunction, although the detailed mechanisms need to be examined.